I have been through this big time-I agree with Dave-keep your goals and ambitions to yourself. Not only will everyone doubt you, they will go out of their way to stop you.

I am older then you, and still very active in dance and gymnastics, and my sisters are among many others who I could care less if I never see again another day in my life-and dancing is the source. But my situation has been a very extreme and unusual incident. This last Christmas, I stayed away from them-did not want to see them. This situation is not likely to change from here on out.

I am completely non-forgiving, and there is no compromise when it comes to tampering with my dancing-or other physical activity. I do not know how far anyone has went in your situation, but the forgiveness is your decision.

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Re: Lack of support from Family

Posted by secret

1/8/2007 8:54:00 PM

Wow

Totally understand your situation. My parents don't even think that dance is a form of art. This makes me absolutely pissed off, and when I speak about it I get very emotional. I say, there's no point in wasting your breath on people that will bring you down. To hell with them. When you'll be a really good dancer, they'll be jealous and you'll be able to laugh in their faces. And yea, I believe that to be forgiven, you need to be sorry. So if your sister is not absolutely sorry, there's no need to forgive her (unless you totally got over it).

Good luck

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Re: Lack of support from Family

Posted by dancer007

9/2/2007 4:38:00 PM

I understand exactly where you are coming from. I started taking ballet at a very young age and got a chance to dance with the New York City Center Ballet Company at age 13 for a week's engagement for the holiday season in my own town. Only my mother attended all of my performances. At age 16, I was offered a chance to attend the American Ballet Theater School, but my mother didn't and wouldn't sign the necessary paper work because the dance profession would not going to present a steady income for a living. My whole world collapsed. Although I didn't make dance a career, I didn't let anyone stop me or talk me out of dancing. I've danced in several amateur dance competition and placed in the top 10 or won one or several first place position without family attending. I wish So You Think You Can Dance had been around so that I could have auditioned for the show. However, I now leave it to the younger dancer to complete for such an honor. Point here, don't let anyone stop you from doing what you love to do. Dance instructors are notorious in the criticisms, but if they didn't think or see your potential, they wouldn't drive you so hard. Non-dancers just don't understand that.